Guide

Trip Info

Join us on a traverse of the famous Rockwall trail. We will have six days of beautiful views, dip our toes in alpine lakes, soak in glacier views and savour nutritious food to fuel our bodies for the challenge. We’ll begin at the Paint Pots, traveling to Helmet Falls for the first night. We’ll ease into the trip by leaving the full backpacks in camp on the second day and day hiking to Goodsir Pass. On the third day we will continue on, spending nights at Tumbling Creek, Numa Creek, with our final night at Floe Lake.

This trip is rated as moderate. We will generally travel 10-12 km per day and a food re-supply at the midway point will keep our pack weights low. Each person will be carrying a share of the group equipment and food, with pack weights up to 40 lbs, depending on how lightweight you can pack. You will need to be fit enough to carry a backpack for multiple days in mountainous terrain.

We will be staying in lightweight backpacking tents and in established national park backcountry campgrounds. Each campsite is equipped with outhouses and food storage facilities. You are responsible for supplying your own tent, sleeping bag and sleeping pad, however, we will arrange for rentals on your behalf if you require, extra charge will apply.

Meals will be lightweight backpacking dried food, although we will have some fresh food earlier in the trip and at our two resupply points. Each day will consist of three nutritious and tasty meals and some snacks to keep us fueled throughout the day.

Meet in Canmore the evening before the trip start date to sign waivers, discuss the logistics and to ensure everybody has appropriate equipment for the trip.

On day one, we drive to the Paint Pots trailhead on Hwy 93S, about 1 hour from Canmore. From there, we’ll ease into the trip with a gradually ascending trail through the forest. We’ll reach the spectacular Helmet Falls and our camp for the night. The distance is 15 km with an elevation of 300 meters up.

For day two, today we’ll take a break from carrying the big backpacks and take a day hike up to Goodsir Pass. Here you’ll get a glimpse into some of the most remote terrain within the Canadian National Mountain Parks.

After breakfast on day three, we’ll leave our camp and head towards Tumbling Creek, with a multitude of alpine vistas, meadows and wildflowers enroute. We’ll finally see the beginning of the famous Rockwall that will be our constant companion for the next several days. The distance is 12 km, elevation at 700 meters up, 600 meters down.

On day four, we’ll head up and over Tumbling Pass with views of the Tumbling Glacier. We’ll stop for the night at Numa Creek campground. The shorter distance today will give us some time to explore. The distance is 8 km with an elevation of 350 meters up, 700 meters down.

Day five starts with an ascent to Numa Pass, the highest point on the trail. Over the pass, the views are amazing as we get a glimpse of Floe Lake, the view we have been waiting for! We’ll descend to camp at the lake, the best campsite on the trip and always a highlight. The distance is 10 km and an elevation of 850 meters up, 350 meters down.

On this final day, we’ll pack up camp and reluctantly leave Floe Lake behind. The hike out the valley will traverse through an area burned in the 2003 fire, that is now exuberantly regenerating. The distance is 11 km, elevation of 720 meters down.